Show The Herald Journal Logan Utah Saturday April 7 2001 — Page ‘ ' V Laker center scores 39 in win Sixers clinch Atlantic Division - “He was hitting everything — including his foul shots" Brian Shaw had 10 points 10 rebounds and nine assists and Rick Fox another former Celtic had 19 points six rebounds and eight assists Paul Pierce scored 30 and Antoine Walker had 21 for Boston which has lost four of its last five games to fall 1 12 games behind Indiana in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference The Pacers beat the Chicago Bulls 100-9- 3 on Friday night The Lakers and Celtics have played each other in the NBA Finals 10 times with Boston winning the first eight and Los Angeles the last two But with the Celtics missing the playoffs eactty?ar‘ since 1995 there haven’t been too many beating turnaround jumper them lately But now the Lakers are in third place in the Western something to shoot for they’re Conference within one game aggressive each and every of Sacramento in the race for night” Grant said “We knew-thefirst place in the Pacific Diviwergojng tp make a run sion and die Celtics are once We just didh’t know it would be tha£go6d” again in the playoff hunt ' in 6 The Celtics-traile“Whenever a team has 15-of-- 23 26-poi- nt with eight seconds left in the game to secure the victory O'Neal added 14 rebounds as the Lakers beat Boston for the fourth consecutive time “Shaq was at the top of his : game tonight’’ Celtics forward Antoine Walker Said losing” Karl Malone said “because I hate giving people the satisfaction We’re going to keep work- ing hard and try to right this ship a little before the playoffs” Problem is they’ve been saying that for a while ‘‘X3iW‘mtfhfh1(gtf‘the Jazfcwereil jbpsiWe' thiramb CTfife weeklful the: chanCe to rise in the Western standings to improve its playoff seeding Instead the Jazz lost at the Delta Center to the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers dropping their homecourt record this season to 1- -9 against the top five Western teams It won’t get easjer for the Jazz who play five of their final seven on the road starting Saturday at Dallas By losing to Sacramento Utah dropped from third in the West to a tie with the Mavericks for No 4 “You go from 2 to 5 or 7 and not 8 hopefully’7 Malone 37 said “It can change that quickly: Forget about the race in the Western Conference I’d just like to win” er Orlando on the road Heat 81 Hornets 76 Alonzo Mourning sank an acrobatic basket with 93 seconds left and the Miami Heat rallied to beat’ the slumping Charlotte Hornets at home Kings 118 Grizzlies 90 go-ahe- ad : Chris Webber thrived again missed with a sore left foot 76ers 96 Cavaliers 88 At Philadelphia Dikembe Mutombo had a season-hig-h 27 points and 13 rebounds and 52-2- Mountains “I hate 1 “We knew Walker and Pierce were are going to get hot We didn't count on McCarty coming in there with three 3s’’ Lakers coach Phil Jackson said “But they found a combination that worked pretty well for them” The Lakers are in the eight- games Kobe Bryant has the first half and 79-5- 8 the Sixers despite playing without Allen ‘Iverson and Aaron' McKie clinched the 93-8- ' Atlantic Division heading into the fourth quarter They waited until the final five minutes to make their move cutting the deficit to 7 left on two apiece by Walker and Walter McCarty Philadelphia hadn't won a division title since 1989-9- 0 Pacers 100 Bulls 93 Reggie Miller scored 28 points and Jalen Rose added 17 as the host Indiana Pacers with-3:1- versus the Vancouver Grizzlies seining 36 points as the Sacramento Kings established a franchise record for road victories Trail Blazers 122 Warriors 91 ' At Oakland Calif Arvydas Saboriis scored a season-hig- h 32 points and Damon Stoudamire had Portland’s first triple-doubin more than six years Clippers 113 Bucks 110 OT Rookie Darius Miles scored 26 points as the a career-hig- h Los Anlgeles Clippers over' Eric Snow added 15 points as APphoto Los Angeles Laker Devean George knocks over Boston Celtic Vitaly Potapenko as he drives toward the basket Saturday night '" points to lead the host Min- nesota Timberwolves to their third straight victory Raptors 108 Magic 100 Antonio Davis had a career-hig- h 3 points and a season-hig- h 13 rebounds and reserve guards Chris Childs and Dell Curry led a fourth-quartcharge as Toronto defeated 6-- 2' y month the Utah Jazz had the best winning percentage in the NBA’s Western Conference Now they’re tumbling downhill faster than the spring runoff in the nearby Wasatch then Derek Fisher was called for a charge to give the'Cellics the bail back nt ' 11 ' rallied in the fourth quarter Timberwolves 101 Sims 88 Kevin Garnett scored 25 95-9- Pierce made a iayup and con- verted a three-poiplay to make it 95-9- 4 with 48 seconds left Fox and Pierce each hit two free throws before the Lakers ran the game clock down to single digits arid Grant hit from about 10 feet out on the right side important games between SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Last e a McCarty ‘hit another 3 to it 1 with 537 left make BOSTON (AP) — There’s still a little passion left in the ' Celtics-Lakerivalry and ' O’Neal knows it as Shaquille well as anyone: O’Neal endured chants of “Beat LA" to sink free throws Friday night scoring 39 points to lead Los Angeles to a 100-9- 6 victory Then he added a friendly taunt to the Boston fans who grew up on Bird vs Magic and ' Russell vs Chamberlain “I’ve been working with Bob Cousy :on my free throws" O'Neal said a claim that would get the Celtics Hall of Fa'mer banished from Boston if it had any truth whatsoever ‘‘He taught me everything I know’ first-ha- lf Boston cut a deficit to one before Horacq Grant hit a shot clockrs ' -- le came the tions of two starters fourth-quart- er ejec- Utah is overall against the West’s top five teams losing seven straight to playoff-boun- d opponents Don’t blame Malone or his longtime colleague John Stockton' 39 ' Malone had 21 points against the Kings breaking a string of three straight games with at least 3 1 points Stockton has scored in double figures 'five straight games although tie had five of Utah's 20 turnovers against Sacramento Coach Jerry Sloan blamed the slide on lack of teamwork The precision that fueled Utah's iOifitffgTor years fand th&mtensity that carried the 5-- 14 - defawSRussingCf ffiafa— “A lot of times this year when we’ve made a- mistake defensively it’s an automatic basket for the other team” Sloan said “It used to be the other way” AP photo After both losses this week Sloan complained that his team has become selfish He also said players are rush- Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone recoils after being elbowed in the face by Sacramento Kings center Vlade Divac during the second quarter Thursday in Salt Lake City Malone and he Jazz have been in a funk lately as they head into the playoffs ing shots instead of running the offense It was apparent in the first quarter against the Kings lead through the Utah built a 35-1- 4 first 11 minutes making extra passes and helping defensively The Jazz appeared poised to break out of the funk that had seized thein during eight losses in their previous 14 games Sacramento rallied with a usu coach is happy his team will be competing on the uneven bars in the final rotation The bars and vault have become Continued from Page 9 the Aggies top events as scares We need to just go hit are ranked 24th and 21st inthey the routines let the judges do their country respectively t$ng come in second and let's "I would rather be competg to Georgia” ing in the last rotation than sitThe Aggies will get a ting in the stands at the end chance to get the Ute fans and Watching” Com said hdund them early in the meet '“I think our teairi is peaking USU begins on the balance at the right time” Aggie all- -' bjeam in the first rotation rounder Nicole Kilpatrick said while the Utes have a bye “I think we are going to have a “The fans at the Huntsman good outing Saturday” Center get to be fans for the Ellis finished third in the all- -! around at the Big West meet Aggies” Corn said While Utah coach Greg Mars-de- n while Kilpatrick rested an remarked he would rather ankle The duo will both be' in end on beam which his team the tonight d 'does than begin Com isn’t The Aggies will be without since USU began on beam one of their best floor performthe ers as Allison Rosenthal injured at Big West Championships "To be honest we’ve experi- - her foot in practice this week enced it once arid we liked it” and has been on crutches: Kira Corn said Nulph will also miss'action After the beam the Aggies tonight with an injured knee Kristen Bloom is questionable will be on the floor exercise “The true strength of this then yault and a bye: The USU run ’ “I don't know what happened” said swingman Bryon Russell “After we went down- the first quarter hill” ' ‘ The Jazz the league's second-old- - est teampehind Portland insist they're doing everything they can to win - 1 i : ' all-arou- nd u-- - wor-Irie- : and Utah State and $outhern Utah with several individuals” Iowa State isenjoying its best year ever The Cyclones have never been tanked so high and ' '! : “We’re definitely ready” Ellis'said “We know we can do it and we are ready to dp it We just need to stay on the equip- ment aridhave a good meet” scary but we just knew that if we stuck to what we had planned We’d come out on But Coffin wasn't singing the birthday! blues after his team’s defeat he understood the Grizzlies’ situation wasn't the best' top "Jones said Adrian Stewart anchored the Mountain “We were a little scrambly today” Cof- Crest defense which lowered Sky View’s fin said shot output to just five in the second half scored what Coffiri Box Elder (1-in “a silly goal" early in the first half seven the called first to compared “They kind of got a little spooked there Just minutes later Grizz senior Kristoffer in the beginning they had to come back Hcdemand went down with '& broken leg in after colliding with a Box Elder player compose themselves which they' did the second half” Hansen said The Bees tacked on another goal 17 minBox Elder 2 Logan 0 utes into the second half to seal the deal At Brigham City Grizz head coach Dan Despite the loss Coffin had high praises for Coffin celebrated his birthday but got goalkeeper James Hinkle who was faced some unwanted presents: three players' with several counterattacks by Box Elder missed the game to go ori was without starters Rich trip and Logan (0-another broke his lee 15 minutes into the Cannon and Braderi Merrill who were both contest not to menuou the loss itself busy singuig wiui die Logan High choir A Continued from Page 9 break and recorded six shots on Sky View goalkeeper Dave Essig Senior Zac Haycock kept the midfield moving for the 'S tangs but his efforts coupled with those ‘of forwards Will Hadfield and Casey Chugg proved fruitless And with Sky View defenders Jason Jones Mike Clark and the like pressuring the Mountain Cre towards Essig didn’t have many dose calls to contend wife For the most pat Mountain Crest was careless with the ball spraying its passes all over die field were a couple of times that were There t ! 5) ! 23-1- st trailing only the 5) " : - 26-1- 2 mark-b- Philadelphia “Every game is a tough one'7 Stockton said when asked if the Jazz have a difficult schedule remaining “All the losses are hard to take” ' smarts use By Shawn Harrison sports editor When the Utah' State gymnastics team riiarches in for tonight's North Central Regional Gymnastics Championship fans wjll not only see a team determined to make if to nationals but a very smart squad ''A record eight Aggie gymnasts were recently named to ' the Big West Conference's allacademic team The most USU gymnasts ever honored in a single season previously were six in 1994 and 1999 “I’m very pleased with this' accomplishment" Aggie head “This is coach Ray Corn-saiwhat out program is all about We riot only have excellent athletes but excellent students who get it dorie in the classroom as well” To be eligible athletes have at least 50 percent of the team's meets " Aggie gymnasts receiving conference academic honors include: sophomore Tina Ellis GPA in exercisewi(h a 4 science junior Stephanie Gordon with a 3579 GPA in social work senior Amanda Jenkins with a 3517 GPA in ‘ nutrition sophomore Nicole Kilpatrick is undecided in a major with a 3606 GPA senior Kristin'O'Dell with a 3897 GPA in premedsopho- more Allison Rosenthal with a 3503 GPA in 'biology : senior Megan Woolstenhulme with a 3784 GPA in account- irig O’Dell Woolstenhulme Gordon and Seeley were Aca- - demic ns last to maintain a 32 cumulative grade' point average have attained a sophomore standing academically and competed in Continued from Pijfa O ' For three local or semihocal skiers as the case may be with Sado'ski Sawyer said they should be proud of their show ing considering they were competing against skins from Boise to Sun Valley and from Jackson Hole to Briari Head : 'They’re starting to get in where athletes start eating raw meat for breakfast” Sawyer said They’re starting to get real serious” ’: ! junior Kirra Seeley with a 3821 GPA in biology 'and' year “We have great academic support at Utah State” Corn said “It is set lip for us'to sue-ceed if the young ladies apply themselves I'm just Itobe a part of all this” 7 ’ '' dence up" Leaving home might' be good for 3 the Jazz have the Utah At road record league's second-be- said “When you try to do that it may come out and look like selfish When you do that you basketball tend to shut down what's going bn around you" Kings coach Rick Adelman expects Utah to rebound for the playoffs “You can't count this ieam out” Adelman said “We were fortunate to get control and make plays down- is depth' granted we - '' "The guys are trying to get the job the stretch It's just a matter of getdone'7 shooting guard John Starks ' ting a win and getting their confi- - are have a season-hig- h 19730 score:' said into that West Coni deep depth' Virginia has a high “But we are replacing 98i’s with score of 197150 Denver is 98's We are experiencedwe're 'coming of its best outing ever ready we just can’t afford to let a 196625 mark Air Force is making its first appearance and ' anything happen" of 94675 Utah has never lost a region- - has a season-hig- h al meet it has hosted On top of The Aggies' have a season- -' ' that the Utes have an all-tihigh of 19605- - USU has not' The had a perfect meet this year home record of 314-1- 5 ' hosts are the defending nation- -' where no falls had to be counted al runner-up- s the best team and enter this Adding meet having scored a school-recor- d scores on each event from 197925 in their final' throughout the season the regular season meet Their Aggies would have a 196925 score If each USU gymnast lineup is full of ! “I think this meet will be that is periciled into the lineup exciting for pur fans because were to match their seasori: three of the teams (Utah Iowa bests tonight then' the Aggies State aind West Virginia) all would score a 197475 “We’re capable of scoring big competed at last year’s NCAA ' think it is going to hap- will which andl Championships make for a very competitive pep” Kilpatrick said “We are meet” Marsden said ‘‘It also right up there if we all hit and do has some local flavor with Utah routines like we know how too”' team 1 ’ ' 20-- 4 over the final six minutes of the second quarter to make it close and “we never recovered from that emotionally” Sloan said I nncV r |